a is for abigail...

My baby just turned 15.

A few photos to help me to remember these days

(current photos taken by her biggest sis.
the ones at the end of the post are from our family photos last fall)

She's my 

fun lovin', 

guitar  pickin', 

 football throwin',  

pie makin', 

basketball dribblin', 

piano playin',

keeps me on my toes,

on my knees,

and

always puts a smile on my face

girl.

She's sugar and spice with just a  bit more spice.

This girl has the gift of laughter.

She laughs all of the time

and 

She makes me laugh.

Every. single. day.

The kind of laughter that comes quietly and then doesn't stop.

The hold-your-stomach, laugh-till-you-cry  kind of laugh.

I wanted to show you these

so you would know where I was coming from

with her bedroom re-do.

(my 3 girls)

She  is her own girl with  her own style.

We were going for a feminine look, but in a different way,  

one that reflects her personality.

So come back tomorrow.

I can't wait to show you!

the girls room...

remember the list?

item #1

Re-decorate  my girl young-in's bedroom…it's time to make it her space… 

Today, I am going to show you the before's.

This bedroom has  and always will  be 


known as the girls' room.


As opposed to the boys' room.

Original, I know.

When we first moved into this house  

oldest girl (mrs mk) and miss g shared this room

then miss g and  girl young-in shared. 

I am a firm believer in kids sharing rooms.

It builds relationships,

allows for giggles at bedtime,

and

makes the children learn to share space together.

perfect training for marriage :)

(besides there  are never enough bedrooms for 5 children)

This is how Miss G and  I decorated the room

after mrs mk married.

 being the big sister (by several years) miss g  got to pick


the colors and decor

 

Even as a  young girl,

she loved the romantic look.

Remember the tea party?

And the wedding?

If you haven't seen it-go take a peek! I just did! Fun times!

these words remain 

painted by mrs mk when she was a teen  

above the closet

going out the door

We're making great progress with the new look.

We've been painting.

White.

Are you surprised?

You will be.

brambleberry cottage 

white memories....

a repost...

Today's white 


is a trip down memory lane


of

my miss g's (now mrs. g) 16th birthday party.

It was quite the production.

We My Mr. built 

the make-shift structure

just for this.

We had to *hang* a chandelier, you know.

An evening dinner party

on the lawn

Her sisters

and

 friends


 she had grown up with were invited.

Can you tell?

She is a detail person (like me).

We had so much fun working on this together.






The menu :

Homemade Bread sticks

Green Salad with Italian Vinaigrette

Chicken Parmesan

Penne with Alfredo sauce

Chilled Lemon Souffle'

Chocolate Truffle Tart

Fresh Raspberries

All from scratch

all by herself

Every year for her birthday

She would have *teaparties*

Pretty dishes and yummy food.

She is her mama's girl.

oh, how I miss those teaparties.

~

~

~


today's note:

your comments and concerns 

for my last post really did make me smile

I don't for a minute think I'm going to get it all done.

I am a list girl.

I figure if you don't aim at something, you'll never hit it.

the list is  my attempt 

to live on purpose

to slow down

to make people be first

to reclaim my home

many of the items are things that I haven't done in years

ever since I started the business

it has literally been years since I've had tea on my porch

to me, this list is a good thing.


linking with:

love never quits...

we were both 16 when we met

highschool sweethearts

 He was 
 funny, out-going, fun-lovin', full-of-highschool spirit.

I was 
the bookworm, way-too-serious, shy girl. 

opposites, you might say.

we came from broken homes

but

we were full 

of  love 

and

full of dreams

simple dreams to

fill our (old) home with lotsa babies

and

lotsa love

love for each other and love for our God

The first 15 years were our adventure years.

we had those babies (5)

we lived in those old houses (4 of them)

we began the adventure of homeschooling

we played football in the yard

we began a family-based business to teach our children to work

(we bought, renovated and re-sold more old houses together)

we had chickens, bicycles, gardens, cookstoves

we built a new house to look like an old house...

Those were happy times:
I had  my squared paper...always planning

and he had  his hammer...building.

Our dreams came true.

we served together, we played together, we laughed together  

and 

we loved together.

It was an easy, fun life with wonderful memories.

The second half has been our hard years.

we have had difficult times

our marriage has been tested

there has been much grief.

his. mine. and ours.

If you have ever lived with someone 
while they grieve 
you will know what I am talking about.

the times when you wonder

Where is that man (woman) I  married 
and 
will he (she) ever come back?

These have been the years when the words

for better, for worse

for richer, for poorer,

in sickness and in health,

when the I do's

were not just words anymore
but 
choices.

I am a simple girl.

I cling to simple promises and simple commands:

 Love is patient, love is kind.
 It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 
 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking,
 it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 
 Love does not delight in evil 
but rejoices with the truth.  
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

 my simple-er paraphrase:


Love never quits.

You do not know how much I have relied on this.

  Grace has been given.

Love has been sustained.

I am sharing all of this

because maybe there is someone out there reading

that wants to quit.

Do. Not. Quit.

Let God be your strength, your grace, your love.

You know, the first 15 were fun

but 
these last years?

These are the years that  really mean something.

Are we (is he) healed?

Not yet.

But we're (he's) getting there

and 
God is faithful.

I love my guy

and

he loves me.

We promised each other and we promised God:

until death do us part

Today 

I celebrate   31 years  of
  fun and  struggle

  joy and  pain
laughter, tears, and madder words.

I celebrate a love that does not quit.

photos  from the *barn shoot*...
jamiehudsonphoto.com